The Good and Holy Priesthood

“The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus.  When you see a priest, think of 

our Lord Jesus Christ.”  – Saint John Vianney

An open letter to any and all:

I want to say a few things about Catholic priests in general, and about a few specific priests I have known.

I can’t imagine how difficult it must be to endure all the sacrifices that come with the priesthood.  Now add to that the current climate of mistrust and hostility that has resulted from the horrific acts of some members of the priesthood.  As a police officer, I do have some inkling of what it feels like to be judged and derided for the actions of someone who shares your profession, but that really pales in comparison to what priests are dealing with today.

I would ask all good people and certainly all Catholics to put aside sweeping generalizations.  I say to be prudent in your judgment of people; trying hard to limit your judgment to actions only.  If a priest, or any person, has never shown himself to be anything but good, then judge those good actions and keep your trust alive.

Priests have more on their plates than most people could possibly fathom.  Of course there are many different assignments a priest may have, but all of them center on the most sacred center, which is representing our Lord Jesus Christ… and even acting In Persona Christi.  A Catholic priest is not an ordinary human being.  His soul is ordained to BE Christ among us as he hears our confessions and he brings our Lord literally to us when he lifts the host and chalice. When we focus on that one, all-important aspect of the priesthood, it brings into better perspective the human failings.

The overwhelming majority of priests honor their vows and sacrifices.  Celibacy vows oblige priests to be alone in many ways, but the administration of sacraments to all of us brings our priests in close intimacy with us in our most important moments.  I once read a quote on the Internet saying priests are there at our deathbeds, “straddling time and eternity with us.”  In that, the priest is our “final escort.”  What greater gift can someone give than to lead us into Jesus’s arms?

Priests witness our marriages.  Priests help our babies become children of God at baptism.  Priests raise us from sin back to Grace at confession.  When we’re sick, priests anoint us.  Priests roam hospital halls at all hours, holding hands with family and victims… always ready and willing to BE THERE for us.

Saint Francis of Assisi said of the priesthood: “If I were to meet at the same time some saint coming down from heaven and any poor little priest, I would first pay my respects to the priest and proceed to kiss his hands. I would say, ‘Ah, just a moment Saint, because this person’s hands handle the Word of Life and possess something that is more than human.’”

I’ve been blessed over my life to have met many, many amazing priests… far too numerous for me to recall and list right now.  There are two priests, however, about whom I’d like to tell a few things.

Father Peter Carota worked tirelessly for his parishes in California (St Jude’s and St Patrick’s).  This man was very special to our family.  He witnessed the sacrament of matrimony with my eldest daughter and her husband, whom he previously welcomed into the Catholic faith.  Father Peter took no prisoners, so to speak; he absolutely told it like it was, and did not ever let us forget what was really important.  Father Peter had a holy charisma about him that still boggles my mind.  A deeply humble man who never once sought self-aggrandizement, there was just something about this holy man that made people follow him.  When he took over as pastor of St Patrick’s, the small church soon was bursting at the seams with people at all the masses.  The reason for this is that people want THE Truth… and Father Peter gave us that.  He had no Deacons and no associate pastors to help him… but his energy was amazing and he looked like a force of nature as he did all of his duties, plus a hundred other things (including being the ultimate motivator on the Walk for Life).  Father Peter passed away a few years ago.  His funeral mass was packed, of course, and there was a strong mystical feel to that day and that ceremony.  I personally believe Father Peter is now enjoying the Beatific Vision.

Father Thomas Babu came to our parish at St Michael’s Reno and spent several years earning his way into all of our hearts.  I came to know Father Tom on a personal basis; ultimately counting him as a close personal friend.  I saw this priest during highs and lows (for both of us).  Father Tom conferred and witnessed sacraments for my family several times, including welcoming my second son-in-law into the Catholic faith, witnessing my second daughter’s matrimony, and baptizing my grandchildren.  He comforted me and my family in some of our most difficult times… and he did the same for many, many other parish families.  Father Tom also helped and comforted many families and people outside our parish.  He volunteered at hospitals and worked with various local agencies to bring priestly assistance to those in need.  All of this, and more, that this great man did for St Michael's, like Father Peter, he did with no deacons or associate pastors to help.  All that Father Tom did, and still does, is done out of love and a true sense of devotion, the likes of which I have rarely seen.  If a man could ever feel justifiably overwhelmed and alone, Father Tom certainly could.  But he never complains about his burden (which is greater than most people realize), instead conveying a sense of true Joy to all who encounter him.

These two amazing Catholic priests are sterling examples of truly holy servants of our Lord.  I could go on for pages with stories and examples of their piety and service… but those of you who have encountered them already know plenty.  Those of you who have not been blessed to know them still very likely have your own examples of good and faithful priests truly doing God’s work.  This is because the VAST majority of Catholic priests are good and holy men doing their very best to get all of us to heaven.

There are currently thousands of parishes without a resident pastor.  As this world continues to attack our church and our priests, please keep in mind how beautiful this vocation is, and how lucky we are to have such men to care for and shepherd us.  They literally give their entire lives to help assure our salvation, and for the Body of Christ.  We need to remember that as we go about our daily—earthly—lives... and we need to pray, consistently and fervently, for the priesthood and for all holy orders and vocations.

I close with two more quotes from Saint John Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests.

"If we had faith, we would see God hidden in the priest like a light behind glass, like wine mixed with water."

"Without the priest, the passion and death of our Lord would be of no avail. It is the priest who continues the work of redemption here on earth...What use would be a house filled with gold, were there no one to open its door? The priest holds the key to the treasures of heaven: it is he who opens the door: he is the steward of the good Lord; the administrator of His goods...Leave a parish for twenty years without a priest and they will end by worshiping the beasts there. The priest is not a priest for himself, he is a priest for you."

God bless y'all.

-K. Matthew Grinstead